Paints for better indoor quality

19Apr

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is three times more polluted than outside air. Paints can contribute to indoor pollution because most paints contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), which is considered a toxin. Until recently, these compounds were essential to the performance of the paint. Consumer demands and new environmental regulations have launched products that contain low or “no” VOC paint products. These environmentally friendly paints are durable and less harmful to humans than standard paint products. There are two categories of paints with less VOC’s. Low VOC paints use water instead of petroleum based solvents. To meet the EPA’s standards VOC’s must not contain more than 200 grams per liter. The paint can should have the actual amounts labeled and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Zero VOC paints are in the range of 5 grams or less per liter. Some manufacturers may claim Zero VOC’s, but these paints still have trace amounts because of colorants and fungicides. Adding color tints (mixing white with color) usually raises the levels up to 10 grams per liter, which is still quite low.